Book holder



June 4, 1963 p. w. NUTTING BOOK HOLDER Filed Aug. 28, 1961' 5 Sheets-sheaf, l

JNVENTOR. Donald W. Nuffing. WHITEHEAD, VOGL 8| LOWE PER ATTORNEYS June 4, 1963 D. w. NUTTING BOOK HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 I J A A I 1 1 m m w m N 1 5 h w m A 6 A 4 a u #2- a 6 2 E i Q 3 H F INVENTOR. Donald W. Nuffingz BY WHITEHEAD, VOGL a OWE Fig. 2

ATTORNEYS United State 3,091,886 BOOK HOLDER Donald W. Nutting, 1350 S. Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs, Colo. Filed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 135,102 Claims. (Cl. 45-85) This invention relates to reading aids and more particularly to devices and apparatus which are especially adapted to hold books in a selected open position for the benefit of a reader. As such, the invention will be hereinafter referred to as a book holder.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a book holder which effectively grasps the top and bottom of an open book to hold it open at any selected page and at any selected upright, inclined or inverted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved book holder for holding an open book in a selected position for reading, combined with an improved frame arrangement for the supporting holder which carries the holder on an improved, universally swivelled means adapted to permit the holder to be shifted and oriented to any selected location.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved book holder which carries an improved lighting means therefor, adapted to properly illuminate the pages of an open book mounted in the holder, in a manner which may completely avoid glare and visual inconvenience to the reader.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved supporting arrangement for a book holder which is adapted to be extended both elevationally and laterally to permit the book holder to reach any selected position at a substantial distance from the base portion of the support.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved support for a book holder and the like having an improved base construction which is especially adapted to be secured and anchored by a simple use of a leg or post of a desk, bed or the like to permit the support to be extendably adjusted, elevational-ly and laterally, to selected position and at a substantial distance from the base portion of the support.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved book holder for facilitating reading which is a simple, neat-appearing, economical, rugged and durable unit when used in its selected environment.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, all of which more fully hereinafter appear, my invention comprises certain novel and improved constructions, combinations and arrangements, of parts and elements as hereinafter described, defined in the appended claims and illustrated in preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the book holderstand combination in a partially retracted position, and with broken lines indicating a corner of a bedstead or like object in position for supporting the stand and with other broken lines illustrating the outline of a book in position on the holder.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the stand portion of the unit, with portions being broken away and in section to show parts otherwise hidden from view and with other portions being broken away and condensed to conserve space.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the stand as viewed substantially from the indicated arrow 3 at FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional detail as taken from the indicated line 4-4 at FIG. 3, but on an enlarged scale.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a portion of the stand, similar to FIG. 3, but on a slightly enlarged scale and showing an alternate construction thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary detail, partially in section, as taken substantially from the indicated line 66 at FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of the book hold or portion of the assembly as taken substantially from the indicated arrow 7 at FIG. 1.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary portion, in plan, of the connective head of the book holder unit, as taken substantially from the indicated line 8-8 at FIG. 7.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken substantially from the indicated line 99 at FIG. 8.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail as taken substantially from the indicated line 1010 at FIG. 8.

FIGURES 11-13 are diagrammatic outline views of a book holder in several various positions in which the assembly may be shifted to hold a book as desired.

A number of situations arise where it is desirable to use a book holder to hold a book in an open position for the reader. A common need is to hold a book for a convalescent. Such a device is also useful as for a posture improving means, and simply as a means of permitting the reader a maximum of physical comfort while he is reading. This often permits a greater degree of concentration than would otherwise be possible. A reader may desire to use a holder while sitting upright, while leaning backwards or even while lying down in a supine position. Complete and proper relaxation can improve an individuals reading efiiciency to a suprising degree and several different types of book holders have been developed with this purpose in mind. However, they have not been generally satisfactory primarily because of their lack of flexibility. The complete and proper relaxation desired may require the assmuption of a number of different positions as at different times. To operate in the best manner, a book holder must be sufiiciently flexible to permit a book to be placed and held in a number of different positions. Also, a book must be properly illuminated at any selected position.

With these needs in view the present invention was conceived and developed and comprises, in essence, an improved book holder construction which combines a means for holding the book in an open position with an improved carrier framework which can extend the book holding means upwardly and outwardly in a generally universal manner. Also a universal swiveling means connects the holder to its frame and a simple and effective lighting means is mounted on the swiveling means to shift with the holder.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and to FIG. 1 thereof, the primary components of my organization include the book holder H, the frame F, and a light L. The frame F includes a base 10 and an extensible standard 11 upstanding from the base. A lazy tongs arm 12 outstands from the stop of the standard. The book holder H is afiixed to the extended end of the lazy tong arm 12 by a universal swivel means 13 and the light L is mounted upon a hinged arm 14 which is also affixed to the universal swivel means, all in the manner as hereinafter brought forth as these various components are described in detail.

The base 10 is formed about a short, upstanding, tubular socket 115, which is preferably a square tube adapted to telescopically receive the standard 11 hereinafter described. The socket 15 is afiixed to a pair of complementary arms 16 which outstand from adjacent sides of the square socket 15 at right angles with each other and in the general form of upstanding triangular plates. Each arm 16 is reinforced by a flange 17 along its top edge V 32 must be turned to release this braking action.

and a flat floor plate 18 which connects and reinforces the bottom edges of theseaarms 16. This plate 18 also extends to the undersurface of the socket tube to bind the assembly together. Whenever the leg of a bench, desk or bed is set upon this floor-plate between the arms 16, as illustrated in broken lines at FIG. 1, the base 10 will be held tightly upon the floor and the unit will not shift or tip even when the arm 12 extends a maximum distance from the standard 11. a

To complete this base, a pair of auxiliary arms 19 may be swingably alfixed to the base between ears 20 and on a shaft 21 to outstand from the side of the socket tube 15. These auxiliary arms 19 may be swung against the sides of the adjacent fixed arms 16 when they are not needed but when they are used they may be swung outwardly to supplement the fixed arms 16 as in the manner illustrated at FIG. 1.

The standard 11 includes an outer tube 22 which is preferably square in section and which telescopically and snugly fits into the socket 15 of the base to upstand therefrom. The standard 11 also includes a second smaller inner tube 23 which is also preferably square in section and which telescopically and slideably fits within the outer tube 22 and upstands from the top thereof in an adjustable manner to vary the height of the unit as hereinafter described. A circular leg 24 upstands from the top of the inner tube 23 to swingably carry the outstanding lazy tong arm 12 as clearly illustrated at FIG. 1.

The extensible movement of the inner tube 23 into and out of the outer tube 22 is controlled by a manually operated mechanism, a rack gear arrangement. In preferred construction, an array of uniformly spaced slots 25 is formed at one side of the inner tube 23 to form rack teeth. A hearing support 26 is affixed to the outer side of the outer tube 22 near its top edge and at the side adjacent to the slots 25. This bearing support holds a transversely disposed shaft 27, which, in turn carries a spur gear 28, and which is keyed thereto. The spur gear engages with the slots 25 to move the inner tube 23 upwardly and downwardly responsive to rotation of the shaft and spur gear 28.

A first turning knob 29 is keyed to one side of the shaft 27 as by a pin 30 illustrated at FIG. 4. This handle may be rotated to rotate the spur gear 28 to raise and lower the inner tube 23. The other side of the shaft 27, which projects from the bearing support 26, is threaded as at 31 and a second turning knob 32 is secured to'the shaft upon these threads. The threads are adapted to turn into the handle 32 whenever downward movement of the inner tube 23 occurs to rotate the spur gear 28, and this inward movement of the threads tends to shift the handle 32 against the side of the bearing support 26 and against frictional lockwashers 33 at the base of the handle 32. This shifting action provides for an automatic braking to prevent sudden dropping of the inner tube 23 into the outer tube 22, and whenever height adjustments are made to the inner tube 23, the handle An unthreaded portion 34 is formed in the threaded portion 31 on the shaft 27 and a lock screw 35 is mounted in the hub of the knob 32 to extend into this unthreaded portion to serve as a stop and prevent the handle 32 from being accidentally turned off the threads.

An alternate construction of the extension mechanism is illustrated at FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the bearing sup port 26a is modified by an arm 36 which outstands from the bearing support, support 26a, to extend about and to partially embrace the spur gear 28. The end of this arm is bifurcated to form a yoke 37 which holds a shaft 38 above the spur gear. A pawl 39 is pivotally mounted on this shaft 38 to bear against the tooth of the spur gear 28 as illustrated at FIG. 6. When the pawl 39 is in the position illustrated with its arm bearing against a tooth of the spur gear, the inner tube 23 is eifectively locked in position within the outer tube 22 and will not 4 slideably drop into the outer tube even if the locking arrangement of the knob 32, bearing against lock washers 33 is accidentally loosened. The pawl 39 is formed with a finger lever 39a which facilitates quick and easy removal and replacement of the pawl to and from a tooth of the spur gear 28.

The lazy tong arm 12 is formed in a conventional criss-cross pattern of short bars 40 having their ends and centers connected together by pivot pins 41. One end of this arm, formed by the opposing ends of a pair of bars 4% is mounted upon the leg 24. Each bar end is pivotally affixed to a short cylindrical collar 42 having an outstanding ear 43 for connection to its bar as by a pin 44. The upper collar 42 is rotatably mounted upon the leg 24 and is held against sliding along the leg by a circular abutment 45 on the leg 24 at the underside of the collar. The lower collar 42 is slideably and rotatably mounted upon the circular leg 24 to permit the lazy tong arm 12 to be properly extended and retracted by sliding action of the lower collar 42 along the leg 24 and with both collars permitting the arm to rotate about the axis of the leg 24 to any selected direction.

The universal swivel means 13 is mounted upon an upright cylindricalarm 46 of a similar construction to the leg 24. This arm 46 is rotatably and slideably mounted in short cylindrical collars 42 having ears 43 which are pivotally connected to the extended ends of a pair of bars 40 at the end of the lazy tong arm 12. A circular abutment 47 is formed at the top of this arm 46 to rest against the upper side of the upper collar 42, with arm being rotatable in the upper collar 42 and being rotatable and slideable on the lower collar 42. It follows that this cylindrical arm 46 permits the swivel means 13 to be swung about a vertical axis to any selected direction.

The lower end of the arm 46 is formed as an inverted T 48 having cylindrical stubs 48a outsanding from each side of the central axial leg of the T. A comparatively heavy link type, doubled U-shaped clamp 49 is adapted to embrace the T 48 with stubs 48a thereof being at one crotch of the clamp in a bearing socket 50. The outstanding ends of the clamp are pulled together by a bolt 51 which lies in a socket-like portion 52 at the complementary crotch of the clamp. A threaded portion of this bolt upstands from the upper surf-ace of the clamp 49 and a knob 53 is turned onto this portion to tighten the assembly and to lock the clamp 49 onto the studs 48a at any selected inclination with'respect to-the vertical axis of the T leg 48.

A shaft 54 which outstands from the shank of the bolt 51 and extends through a loosely fitting orifice 55 at the end of the clamp 49 to be oriented along the axis of the clamp. The end of this shaft 54 is threaded to receive a circular holding nut 56 and a flanged sleeve 57 is rotatably carried upon the outstanding portion of the shaft 54 and is held thereon by the nut 56. The sleeve 57 is formed with a flange 58 which snugly abuts against the end of the clamp 49. One end of this flange is extended and turned to form a pair of ears 59 which constitutes a hinged connection for carrying the arm 14 of the light L. A circular array of indentations 60 lie in the face of this flange 58, about the axis of the sleeve, and a small socket 61 is formed in the contacting end of the clamp 49 to carry a ball 62 and spring 63 therein. The spring 63 urges the ball into any indentation which may be in registration of the socket 61. In this manner the sleeve 57 may be rotated to any selected position about the axis of the shaft 54 and held in that position by the resilient locking action of the ball 62 moving into an indentation 60. a I,

The book holder H is formed upon a longitudinally slotted sleeve 64 which slideably and telescopically fits over the holding nut 56 and the sleeve 57. A lug 65 is affixed to the flanged end of the sleeve 57 and a short slot 66 is formed in the sleeve 64 toreceive this lug and to force both sleeves to rotate in unison. The sleeve 64 is also slotted as at 67 at a position diametrically opposite to the position of the lug 65 and a clamp 68 embraces the sleeve 64. This clamp is adapted to squeeze the sleeve 64 as by a knob-nut 69 to hold the sleeve in a tight position upon the under sleeve 57 and to hold the book holder assembly upon the swivel means 13.

The book holder includes a central rod 70 which is welded or otherwise aflixed to the sleeve 64 to extend along the longitudinal axis thereof and to outstand from the swivel assembly. In use it is contemplated that this rod 70 will lie at the central dihedral crease of the open pages of a book with the pages of the book extending from each side of the bar 70'. A fixed end-abutment 71 is also aflixed to the end of the sleeve 64 in a position which is transverse to the axis of the sleeve and the bar 70. The under edge of this end abutment is turned inwardly to lie against the sleeve and to form a flanged connecting portion 72 which holds a transversely disposed page-retaining shelf 73. This shelf includes connecting slots 74 and is connected to the flange 72 by snugly fitting bolts 75. Thus, the width of the shelf 73 may be varied with respect to the end abutment 71 to allow for diflerent marginal clearances of different books.

A complementary adjustable end-abutment 76 is mounted upon a clip 77 which is slideably carried upon the bar 70 and which may be held in place by any suitable frictional locking means. This adjustable end-abut ment is formed with a flange 72 which carries a pageretaining shelf 73 adjustably affixed to the flange as by connecting slots 74 and rivets 75 heretofore described. Also, a sponge rubber pad 78 may be affixed to the surface of this adjustable end abutment, as shown at FIG. 7, to secure the edge of the book with a snug resilient fit and, while not shown, the fixed end abutment 71 may also include such a pad.

When properly laid into position upon the book holder, an open book will be centered upon the bar 70 with the pages lying against the shelves 73, one shelf being at the top and the other shelf being at the bottom of the open pages and with the end abutments 7-1 and 76 gripping the top and bottom of the book. As a further modification, for larger books, each shelf 73 is formed with its inner edge being inwardly curled to provide a tubular socket 79 to slideably hold extension wires 80. These wires, of fairly rigid material such as piano wire, are especially useful in holding large flimsy material such as sheet music and magazines.

Also, to supplement the wires, one or more intermediate supports 81 may be formed of rigid wire, with the center of the support being fit to form a tight loop 82 which grips the bar 70 and with each end of the intermediate support wire extending transversely therefrom in substantial spaced parallelism with the edges of the shelf 73, as clearly illustrated at FIGS. 1 and 8.

The lamp L is formed with a suitable shade 83 Which directs the light emanating from it in the single direction of the holder H when it is rotated to a proper position as illustrated, the shade being pivotally mounted upon the arm 14 in an axis which lies in substantial spaced parallelism with the transverse edges of the shelf 73. As illustrated, the arm 14 may be a bifurcated member with legs thereof being pivotally connected to the lamp. The other end is connected to a hinge component 84 which engages the cars 59 of flange 58 as heretofore described, the hinge component 84 and the ears 59 being interconnected by a shaft 85 carrying an adjustable lock knob 86.

The light is operated by a suitable switch 87 and suitable circuit wires, not shown, are threaded upon the apparatus as from the base portion, across the lazy tongs 12, down the swivel means 13 and arm 14 and to the light in any conventional manner as desired.

Operation of the unit is manifest from the foregoing description. The frame is set at a selected location and preferably with the leg of a bed or desk resting upon the '6 floor plate 18 to secure it in its selected position. The height of the unit is first adjusted by raising the inner tube 23. Next the lazy tong arm 12 is rotated and extended to properly position the book holder assembly. The book holder assembly. H is then rotated upon the universal swivel means 13 to whatever position might be desirable for comfortable and easy reading, as in any of the positions illustrated at FIGS. 11, 12, and 13. After such adjustment the entire assembly is locked into place by merely turning knob 53. The lamp L is then swung to any position by pivoting it about the arm 14 and pivoting the arm 14 about its connecting shaft 85 and locking the assembly into position by knob 86. Finally a book is placed upon the holder H with the open pages resting upon the opposing shelves 73. Final adjustments are made by properly extending the wires at each end of the shelf and adjusting the position of the intermediate support 81 if it is required. Finally the book is snugly and securely held in place between the end abutments 71 and 76. While the book must be released from the holder to turn the pages, the apparatus permits easy relaxed reading.

I have now described my invention in considerable detail but it is obvious that others skilled in the art can build and devise alternate and equivalent constructions which are within the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I desire that my protection be limited, not to the constructions illustrated and described, but only by the upper scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a frame having an outstanding supporting arm, a book holder adapted to be carried at the base of the supporting arm, and comprising a T leg depending from the arm, a double-crotch U-clamp having one crotch embracing the arms of the T leg whereby to permit rotation of the clamp about the axis of the arms of the T leg, a lock bolt spanning the other crotch of the clamp and being adapted to bring the legs of clamp together to lock it upon the T leg, a shaft extending from the side of the bolt and between the legs and along the axis of the clamp, a flanged sleeve rotatably mounted upon the shaft with the flange thereof carrying a lamp holding means, a lockable sleeve telescopically mounted upon the first said sleeve and carrying a book holding means and means adapted to lock the second sleeve upon the first and to lock the first sleeve upon the shaft.

2. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein the flange of the first said sleeve bears against the end of the clamp, a lock means in the clamp adapted to bear against the face of the flange and indentations about the flange adapted to be selectively positioned in registration with the lock means by rotation of the sleeve upon the shaft whereby to selectively orient the sleeve upon the shaft.

3. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein said book-holding means includes a central rod extending axially from the sleeve, a fixed-end book abutment aflixed to the end of the sleeve transversly to the central rod and a movable end-book abutment mounted upon the central rod.

4. In the organization set forth in claim 1, wherein said book-holding means includes a flat central rod extending axially from the sleeve, a fixed end book abutment affixed to the end of the sleeve transversely to the central rod, a page-retaining shelf mounted on the abutment, a movable end book abutment slideably mounted upon the central rod and a page-retaining shelf mounted upon the abutment in spaced opposition with the first said page-retaining shelf.

5. In the organization set forth in claim 4, a resilient pad mounted upon an abutment to more effectively grip the end of a book.

6. In the organization set forth in claim 3, a transversely disposed extension wire adapted to be mounted upon the central rod between the abutments and being adapted to 7 hold thecentral portion of the. pages ofv an open book lying upon the holder.

. 7. In the organization set forth in claim 4, extension wires in the pageretaining shelves adapted to be extended from each end of the shelf and to facilitate the support of pages of large books.

8. In combination with aframe having an outstanding supporting arm a book holder adapted? to be swivelly carried at the base of the supporting arm, and comprising,

(a) a horizontally axised support means depending from, the frame arm;

(b) a clamp means embracing the support means and being adapted to swing thereon about the horizontal axis and generally in a vertical plane;

(0) means adapted. to tighten. the clamp means to the support means at any selected position;

(21) a shaft outstanding from the clamp means substantially perpendicular to the axis of the support means and being thereby adapted to be swung in a vertical arc by rotation of the clamp means, and

(e) a book holding arm including a lockable sleeve 8 mounted over the said shaft and being adapted to be rotated and to be locked thereon at any selected position.

9. In the combination defined in claim 8 including a vertically-axised pivot means at the frame arm and with said support means being carried in the pivot arm for rotation thereof about a vertical axis.

10. In the combination defined in claim 8 including a second lockable sleeve mounted upon said shaft and having a light-holding extension arm thereon, with said second sleeve being adapted to be rotated and to be locked on the shaft at any selected position with respect to the first said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,969,547 Corsgren Aug. 7, 1934 2,136,701 Manierre Nov. 15, 1938 2,333,376 Hopkins Nov. 3, 1943 2,480,233 Fuller Aug. 30, 1949 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A FRAME HAVING AN OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ARM, A BOOK HOLDER ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED AT THE BASE OF THE SUPPORTING ARM, AND COMPRISING A T LEG DEPENDING FROM THE ARM, A DOUBLE-CROTCH U-CLAMP HAVING ONE CROTCH EMBRACING THE ARMS OF THE T LEG WHEREBY TO PERMIT ROTATION OF THE CLAMP ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE ARMS OF THE T LEG, A LOCK BOLT SPANNING THE OTHER CROTCH OF THE CLAMP AND BEING ADAPTED TO BRING THE LEGS OF CLAMP TOGETHER TO LOCK IT UPON THE T LEG, A SHAFT EXTENDING FROM THE SIDE OF THE BOLT AND BETWEEN THE LEGS AND ALONG THE AXIS OF THE CLAMP, A FLANGED SLEEVE ROTATABLY MOUNTED UPON THE SHAFT WITH THE FLANGE THEREOF CARRYING A LAMP HOLDING MEANS, A LOCKABLE SLEEVE TELESCOPICALLY MOUNTED UPON THE FIRST SAID SLEEVE AND CARRYING A BOOK HOLDING MEANS AND MEANS ADAPTED TO LOCK THE SECOND SLEEVE UPON THE FIRST AND TO LOCK THE FIRST SLEEVE UPON THE SHAFT. 